Keyboard unit for line-composing setting and casting machine



F. BAUER Nov. 16, 1965 KEYBOARD UNIT FOR LINE-COMPOSING SETTING AND CASTING MACHINE Filed 001.. 29, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 wunmm Franz Bauer INVENTOR.

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F. BAUER Nov. 16, 1965 KEYBOARD UNIT FOR LINE-COMPOSING SETTING AND CASTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001',- 29, 1964 INVENTOR. Franz Bauer F. BAUER Nov. 16, 1965 KEYBOARD UNIT FOR LINE-COMPOSING SETTING AND CASTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 29, 1964 NEE lJ/Qn J T o TH m [ILHLL Franz Bauer INVENTOR.

AGENT United States Patent Office 3,217,865 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 3,217,865 KEYBOARD UNIT FOR LINE-COMPOSING SETTING AND CASTTNG MACHINE Franz Bauer, 53/4 Porzellangasse, Vienna IX, Austria Filed Oct. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 407,378 7 Claims. (Cl. 199-18) It is an object of the invention so to modify in a linesetting composing and casting machine the known keyboard, which comprises 90 keys arranged in a rectangle of 165 X 400 millimeters, that anybody who can operate a typewriter can operate also a line-setting composing and casting machine. In a keyboard for a line-setting composing and casting machine, this object is accomplished according to the invention in that the keyboard unit comprises a typewriter keyboard, solenoid-operable transfer levers are provided for operating the matrix release bars, the inputs of the solenoids are connected to contacts arranged in two rows, corresponding to lower case and upper case, each key constitutes a switch, and a shift bar provided with balls arranged in a row is provided for case shifting, the balls co-operating with the contacts connected to the inputs of the solenoids.

Further details of the invention will be explained with reference to the drawing, which shows by way of example an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the known keyboard of a line-setting composing and casting machine in conjunction with the keyboard according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the keyboard according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the electrical connections to the type keys, the shift keys and the space key.

FIG. 4 shows the mounting of the shift key.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram.

The typing keys 1 have shanks provided with compression springs 1c, which tend to separate the contacts 1a, 1b associated with the keys 1 when these are in position of rest. Each row of keys comprises a busbar 2, which is connected by terminals 20 to a contact bar 3. The shift keys 5 are not connected to the busbars 2 but are each provided with a contact bar 311. The contact bar 3 of the rows of keys is connected to the positive terminal and the contact bar 3a of the shift keys 5 is connected to the negative terminal of a source of current. Each type key 1 has two solenoids associated with it to enable a release of lower case matrices (small letters and numerals) or upper case matrices (capital letters and punctuation marks). Each solenoid 10 has associated with it an armature consisting of a transfer lever 13, which is mounted on a shaft 14 and serves for releasing the matrix. Each shift key 5 co-operates with a shift solenoid 11, which has two armatures 11a, 110. The movements of the armatures 11a, 11c are transmitted to a shift bar 8 by a transfer lever 11b, a connector bar 11d, a support lever 1112, a rocker lever 11] and a connector bar 11g. The shift bar 8 consists of insulating material and is provided with balls 8a arranged in a row. The shift bar is provided with a plurality of bores, which are smaller in diameter than the balls. Each of these bores accommodates a ball 8a. To enable the balls to protrude on both sides of the shift bar 8, the latter is formed with a groove which has a trapezoidal crosssection and connects all bores. According to FIG. 2, conducting arms 7 are disposed above the balls 8a. Each of these conducting arms is associated with one ball and one type key. A rake of insulating material is provided for locating the conducting arms. On the side opposite to the conducting arms 7 for the balls 8a, contact surfaces 9a, 9b are provided, which are embedded in a bar 9 of insulating material. With the aid of the shift bar 8, each ball 8a can be engaged with one of the contact surfaces 9a or 912. Each contact surface 9a, 9b is conductively connected to the input of a solenoid 10. The outputs of the solenoids are connected to the negative terminal by the contacts of the shift keys 5 to enable a release of the lower case and upper case type. An upper contact tongue 6, a leaf spring 6a and a lower contact tongue 6b provide a connection between the contact 1b of each type key 1 and the associated conducting arm 7. The space key 12 is pivotally mounted in known manner in front of the row-s of keys. Operation of the space key results in the energization of an associated solenoid, not shown, to attract a transfer lever so that a wedge is inserted into the line to be composed. To enable an energization of the above-mentioned solenoid, the rocker shaft 12a carries a contact spring 12b, one end of which is connected to the contact bar 3a whereas the other end of the spring 1212 is adapted to be contacted with a further contact spring 120. The latter is secured to a bracket 12d. A compression spring 12c provided between the base 12d and the: contact spring 12c tends to urge the contact spring 12c into a predetermined position of rest. A lever 12f for restoring the space key 12 is secured to the rocker shaft 121:. One end of the lever 12 is connected to a tension spring 12g.

M ode of operation The actuation of a type key 1 for releasing a small letter closes the contacts 1a, If: so that the solenoid 10 associated with the depressed key is energized through the busbar 2, the contacts 1a; 1b, the upper and lower contact tongues 6, 6b, the leaf spring 6a, the conducting arm 7, the ball 8a and the contact surface 912. As a result, the transfer lever 13 associated with this magnet solenoid 10 is attracted to release the matrix. To release, e.g., a capital letter, one of the shift keys 5 must be depressed to energize the shift solenoids 11 so that their armatures 11a and displace the shift bar 8 to the right in FIG. 2 and cause the balls 8a to rest on the contact surfaces 912. The depression of a type key 1 will now energize the solenoid 10 associated with the capital letter and a capital letter will be released in the same manner as has been described for the release of a small letter.

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard unit for a line-composing setting and casting machine, which unit comprises a plurality of upper case solenoids, a plurality of lower case sloenoids, a plurality of matrix releasing levers, each of which is operable in response to the energization of one of said solenoids, and switchgear for selectively energizing each of said solenoids, said switchgear comprising a plurality of key switches, a plurality of type keys arranged generally like a typewriter keyboard, each of said type keys being operable to close one of said key switches, a plurality of pairs of contacts, each of said pairs comprising an upper case contact connected to the input of one of said uppercase solenoids and a lower case contact connected to the input of one of said lower case solenoids, said upper and lower case contacts, respectively, being arranged in two parallel rows, a shift bar carrying a series of balls, each of which is associated with one of said pairs of contacts, and means conductively connecting each of said balls to one of said key switches, said shift bar being movable transversely to said rows between two positions, in which said balls are in engagement with said upper and lower case contacts, respectively.

2. A keyboard unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said type keys are arranged in a plurality of rows, each of said key switches comprises first and second contacts, and a plurality of busbars are provided, each of which connects said first contacts of said key switches associated with said type keys arranged in one row.

3. A keyboard unit as set forth in claim 1, which comprises shift solenoids, each of which has two armatures operable in response to the energization of said shift solenoids, a linkage connecting said armatures of said shift solenoids to said shift bar to move the same in response to the energization of said shift solenoids to a position in which said balls are in engagement with said upper case contacts, and shift keys operable to energize said shift solenoids.

4. A keyboard unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said shift bar consists of insulating material and is formed with a groove accommodating said balls, said groove being open towards said contacts, said shift bar being formed on the side remote from said contacts with a plurality of bores communicating with said groove and smaller in diameter than said balls, each of said balls protruding through one of said bores and out of said groove.

5. A keyboard unit as set forth in claim 4, in which said means conductively connecting each of said balls i comprise a plurality of conducting arms, each of which extends across said two rows of contacts and is in contact with one of said balls 6. A keyboard unit as set forth in claim 5, which comprises a rake of insulating material having teeth disposed between adjacent ones of said conducting arms and in engagement therewith to prevent a lateral displacement of said conducting arms.

7. A keyboard unit as set forth in claim 4, in which said groove has a trapezoidal cross-section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,347,747 7/1920 Kennedy 19918 1,795,854 3/1931 Good 199-48 2,065,274 12/1936 Good 19918 2,090,028 8/1937 Burt 19918 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A KEYBOARD UNIT FOR A LINE-COMPOSING SETTING AND CASING MACHINE, WHICH UNIT COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF UPPER CASE SOLENOIDS, A PLURALITY OF LOWER CASE SLOENOIDS, A PLURALITY OF MATRIX RELEASING LEVERS, EACH OF WHICH IS OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE ENERGIZATION OF ONE OF SAID SOLENOIDS, AND SWITCHGEAR FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING EACH OF SAID SOLENOIDS, SAID SWITCHGEAR COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF KEY SWITCHES, A PLURALITY OF TYPE KEYS ARRANGED GENERALLY LIKE A TYPEWRITER KEYBOARD, EACH OF SAID TYPE KEYS BEING OPERABLE TO CLOSE ONE OF SAID KEY SWITCHES, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF CONTACT CONNECTED TO THE INPUT OF ONE OF AN UPPER CASE CONTACT CONNECTED TO THE INPUT OF ONE OF AN UPPER CASE SOLENOIDS AND A LOWER CASE CONTACT CONNECTED TO THE INPUT OF ONE OF SAID LOWER CASE SOLENOIDS, 